FISA secures wider US exposure through renewed NBC Sports deal

FISA secures wider US exposure through renewed NBC Sports deal

The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has extended and expanded its rights deal with the World Rowing Federation (FISA).

The exclusive three-year US media rights agreement will run through 2020 and includes coverage of the three World Rowing Cup regattas, the European Rowing Championships, and the World Rowing Championships.

NBC Sports will present 30 hours of television coverage of the events across NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

NBCSN coverage will also be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA content will be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com, OlympicChannel.com, the NBC Sports app, and the Olympic Channel app.

Coverage kicks off with the first of three World Rowing Cup regattas beginning on June 3 from Belgrade, Serbia, and continues with the European Rowing Championships in August, before wrapping up with the World Rowing Championships in September.

Headlining the US team at the World Rowing Championships will be the women’s eight, which had an unprecedented winning streak that went from 2006 through to the 2016 Olympic Games. The Americans’ flagship boat won every major event since 2006 and claimed Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.

Matt Smith, FISA executive director, said: “There is more viewing interest than ever before in the United States from the growing number of rowers in the country at all levels from high school rowers through to masters rowers and, of course, the tremendous growth in the number of collegiate rowers. This new development will bring the major events of rowing to the living rooms of many, many more potential viewers.”